GUTENBERG, JOHANNES, or
HENNE (gö′ten-berG) , a German
printer; born in Mainz, about 1400. In
1434 he was living in Strassburg, and
seems to have been well known as a man
of considerable mechanical skill, who
taught stone cutting, mirror polishing,
and similar arts. When and where he
made his first attempts in the art of
printing cannot with certainty be
ascertained. Some time between 1444 and 1448
he returned to Mainz, where, in 1449 or
1450, he entered into partnership with
Johannes Fust or Faust, a wealthy goldsmith,
who furnished the money required
to set up a printing press. This partnership
was, however, dissolved after the
lapse of a few years, Fust bringing an
action at law against Gutenberg to
recover the sums he had advanced. In
consequence of the legal verdict, Fust
retained the printing concern, and
carried it on in conjunction with Peter
Schöffer of Gernsheim. Gutenberg, with
the assistance of a Dr. Homery, afterward
set up another printing press. He
is considered the inventor of movable
type. He died in Mainz, Feb. 24, 1468.